Category: Raising Teens

8 Ways to Encourage Your Child to Do Chores

Dr. Tali Shenfield

Research shows that kids who do chores grow up to be happier, more successful adults.  When kids pitch in around the house, they feel competent and valuable, which facilitates the development of healthy self-esteem, confidence, and resilience. Kids also learn practical skills by doing chores, including organizational skills, time management skills, and the ability to complete tasks independently. Unfortunately, getting ...

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How to Make Consequences Effective for Kids and Teens With ODD

Dr. Tali Shenfield

Occasionally testing limits and boundaries through acts of defiance is a normal part of child development. Most kids break the rules to define their social role and express their desire for autonomy, which is why rebellious behaviour occurs most frequently from ages 2-3 and during early adolescence. For kids with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), however, being hostile and uncooperative isn't ...

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Understanding and Preventing Depression in Teens: A Guide for Parents

Dr. Tali Shenfield

Depression has become an all-too-common experience for adolescents. Rates of depression are also rising faster among people aged 13-19 than in any other age group: Between 2010-2023, teenage depression increased by 145% in girls and by 161% in boys - nearly 5 times the 33% increase experienced by adults during the same period. As of 2023, nearly 20% of U.S. teens experienced clinical depression, with 18.1% ...

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Understanding the Effect of Ongoing Parental Conflict on Kids

Dr. Tali Shenfield

When we think of the type of parental conflict that psychologically damages children, we envision screaming fights and physical violence. However, research shows that ongoing, poorly-resolved ongoing conflict between parents is often equally harmful. Simple everyday arguments, parents giving each other the “silent treatment,” and acts of passive aggression can significantly impact kids’ social and emotional well-being. Chronic parental conflict ...

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Popular Articles

When Parents and Teens are in Deadlock Over Political Views: 6 Tips for Reconciliation

Politics has always been a controversial topic, but rarely has our political climate been as divisive as it is right ...

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What Can Trigger ADHD in Adults? 6 Factors to Look Out For

The last two years have been a period of prolonged stress and isolation for many people, leading to an increase ...

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What are the Telltale Signs that You Need to Change Therapists?

Not every relationship works out. This is true whether the relationship in question is a friendship, romantic relationship, or the ...

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10 Recommendations for Single Parents: How to Manage Stress and Parent Effectively

Editorial Team

There’s no definitive guide to being a single parent; no matter how you approach it, raising a child on your own comes with unique challenges and rewards. Single parents have greater control over some aspects of family life than dual-parent households, but the responsibility of being sole provider and decision-maker can feel overwhelming. Though lone-parent families now make up 20% ...

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How to Stop Sibling Bullying: 5 Essential Strategies for Parents

Dr. Tali Shenfield

When bullying happens at school, most parents immediately recognize it as a problem. Bullying that occurs at home between siblings, on the other hand, is often normalized. Many parents aren’t sure where to draw the line between typical, minor sibling conflicts and genuine abuse, while others are unaware of the long-term damage sibling bullying can cause. Due to this ...

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How to Practice Social Situations with Your Child?

Dr. Tali Shenfield

  Having well-developed social skills is fundamental to achieving personal success and happiness. Social skills help kids express themselves, advocate for their needs, collaborate with others, and establish strong, fulfilling relationships. Without adequate social skills, children often become isolated and prone to emotional and behavioural problems, which may lead to more severe issues later in life. Kids learn the bulk ...

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9 Effective Ways to Show Empathy to Your Struggling Child

Dr. Tali Shenfield

Empathizing with your child when his behaviour is frustrating can be challenging, but it’s an essential part of being a supportive, trustworthy parent. When you empathize with your child, you let him know that you respect and value his feelings, even if you don’t always agree with how he handles them. You show him that you care about ...

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